Lassen County History
Illustrated History of PLUMAS, LASSEN & SIERRA Counties
with CALIFORNIA from 1513 to 1850, Farriss & Smith, 1882, San Francisco
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper, Oct 2009
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HANGING OF SNOW, EDWARDS, AND LUCKY BILL.
In 1857 a Frenchman named Henry Gordier bought a band of cattle, and ranged them on the
ranch now occupied by Thomas Mulroney, near the head of the lake. Early in 1858, John Mullen,
Asa Snow, and William Combs Edwards, known here simply as William Combs, began negotiating
for the purchase of this stock. They soon after took possession of Gordier's log cabin and cattle,
and reported that the Frenchman had sold to them, and gone immediately to Genoa, and from there to
San Francisco, whence it was his intention to sail at once for the East. The neighbors thought
such a hasty departure a rather strange proceeding, and wrote a letter to the missing man's brother
on Feather river, asking if he knew of the intended departure of his brother. An answer in the
negative deepened their suspicions, and they began to search for the missing man. They found a
place on the ranch where there were evidences of a struggle,, and upon raking away the ashes of a
fire near by, blood-stains were found and a metal button discovered. A careful search of the river
resulted in finding the body, which had been placed in a sack and sunk with a large stone.
While this was being done, Mullen and Edwards had departed, leaving the property in the
charge of Snow. The citizens arrested Snow, and put him upon trial before an extemporized court,
but before the end of the trial a mob took Snow from the house of L. N. Breed (now owned by T. H.
Epley) and hanged him to the limb of a tall pine tree which stood upon the lake shore. Edwards
had fled to Carson valley, and placed himself under the protection of William B. Thorrington, commonly
called Lucky Bill. He owned much valuable ranch property, and the Carson Canon Toll
Road, and was one of the leading settlers of that section. As to the part played by and the character of
Lucky Bill there are two opinions. The people of Honey Lake valley believe him to have
been the leader of a gang of robbers and cut-throats, and to have been an abettor of the murder of
Gordier; while the majority of the old residents of Carson and Eagle valleys, where *he resided, are
as firmly convinced of his innocence. Lucky Bill claimed that Edwards had assured him that he
was innocent of the murder, and that he therefore undertook to secrete and protect him.
W. T. C. Elliott went down from Honey Lake, and played the part of detective, getting
into the good graces of Lucky Bill, and learning that Edwards was being concealed by him. He
also became satisfied that there were bonds of union between a number of bad characters in that
vicinity. Elliott was one of a committee appointed to work up the case, the others being Junius
Brutus Gilpin, John Neal, Frank Johnson, and Charles Adams. When all was in readiness, thirty-
two men went down from Honey Lake valley, and were joined by settlers from Washoe, Eagle,
and Carson valleys, till they had a company of nearly 100 men. A night raid was made, and
Lucky Bill and eleven others were arrested. Camp was made on the ranch of Richard Sides, on
Clear creek, between Genoa and Carson City. The prisoners were confined in Sides' house, while
the barn was used for a court-room. Settlers congregated here in great numbers to attend the trial.
Three judges were chosen, John Neal from Honey Lake valley, and Dr. King and John L. Cary
from Carson valley. Eighteen jurors were selected, six of them from Honey Lake valley. Elliott
acted as sheriff. The judges, jurors, and spectators sat in the court-room, armed with guns and
revolvers. They first tried the eleven men whom they had arrested, and against whom they could
prove nothing save that they were sporting men and undesirable citizens. For this reason they
were fined from $250 to $1,000 each, and banished from the settlements.
Edwards was captured through Jerome Thorrington, the son of Lucky Bill, who was told that
if he would deliver up Edwards his father's life would be spared. The result was, that Edwards
was decoyed from his hiding place and captured. He was placed upon the stand to testify against
Lucky Bill. Of the trial, the History of Nevada says: "The evidence under oath was written
down by C. N. Noteware, late secretary of state for Nevada; and the writer of this has read it all.
Not a thing appears there implicating Lucky Bill in anything except the attempt to secure the murderer's
escape. The absence of any knowledge on the part of the accused of the guilt of Edwards
is a noticeable feature in that testimony; that party, after having acknowledged his own guilt,
swore positively that he had assured Lucky Bill that he was innocent, and no one else testified to the
contrary" The jury believed, however, that Thorrington was cognizant of the murder, and convicted him.
He was hanged on the nineteenth of June, 1850. The same work says: "His son is
now dead, and the widow is wearing out her life in the Stockton Insane Asylum, in California."
Edwards was brought back to Honey Lake valley, arid placed on trial. He made a full confession, and was
hanged June 23, 1858, by the officers selected by the settlers. John Mullen, the third
murderer, was never captured.